;^4 BEPOBT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1901. 



in certain European museums with some success, and experiments are 

 now under way here with a view to utilizing this method or devising 

 sonic other which shall render a display of the lower vertebrates more 

 presentable. 



Some progress has been made toward perfecting- the collection of 

 game birds, fishes, and large mammal heads now temporarily displayed 

 in the lower stairway ball at the main entrance to the Smithsonian 

 building, the walls of which have been repainted in appropriate colors. 

 It is contemplated to replace the individual mountings, at least among 

 birds, by groups of specimens with accessories representing the species 

 in their native surroundings, and several such groups have already 

 been completed. 



The finely mounted specimens of large mammals, prepared for the 

 Pan-American Exposition, will ultimately be added to the collections 

 of this group in the South Museum hall. The only work done directly 

 for this hall was the relabeling- of the American carnivora. The 

 exhibition of insects, to which a hall in the Smithsonian building was 

 recently assigned, is still only partially and imperfectly installed, 

 owing to the fact that the working up of certain proposed improve- 

 ments in the manner of mounting and arranging the specimens has 

 not been completed. It is expected, however, to settle upon some 

 definite plan during the present year, after whieh little delay should 

 ensue in placing this group in a thoroughly presentable condition. 



One of the most interesting installations of the year, so nearly com- 

 pleted a-> to permit of its being thrown open to the public, was that in 

 the so called "Children's Room," which occupies the main floor in the 

 south tower of the Smithsonian building. This novel feature is fully 

 described in the Report of the Secretary, and also in that of the Head 

 Curator of Biology, on page 63 of this volume, It was instituted by 

 the Secretary for the benefit of the very young people, their enter- 

 tainment rather than instruction, as an attractive means of inculcating 

 a love for nature. The room, a small one, is richly painted and deco- 

 rated in a prevailing tint of green, and has a white mosaic iioor with 

 celtic border. The cases, which follow the walls, are framed with 

 light-colored wood, hut consist mainly of large panes of plate glass, 

 and are so 'low that even a small child can see the contents of the upper 

 shelves. The subjects represented are mainly zoological; familiar 

 American birds, common European birds, large birds of prey, inter- 

 esting water birds, curious birds, brilliantly colored birds, illustra- 

 tions <>f protective mimicry among birds and insects, and curious shells, 

 corals, sponges, etc. There are also some minerals and fossils, two 

 a«iuaria with living fishes, and a number of bird pictures on the walls. 

 The labels are all in simple language and printed in large type. Much 

 remains to be done before the exhibit can be regarded as entirely 



